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Organization helping kids who are aging out of foster care system during coronavirus crisis

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Updated: 6:30 PM CDT Apr 14, 2020

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THIS DIFFICULT TIME. ERIN: YES, FOSTER CARE OFFICIALS TELL ME 18-YEAR-OLD’S AGING OUT OF THE SYSTEM NEED TO REACH OUT TO THE ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO HELPING THEM GET ON THEIR FEET, BECAUSE IF THEY DO NOT, THEY COULD END UP JOBLESS OR EVEN HOMELESS DURING THIS PANDEMIC. >> THEY’RE PRETTY MUCH JUST ON THEIR OWN. ERIN: LONGTIME FOSTER PARENT, SHEILA SCHLARB, HAS FOSTERED A FEW 17-YEAR-OLD’S AND 18-YEAR-OLD’S WHO AGED OUT OF THEY SYSTEM AND CURRENTLY HAS A 17-YEAR-OLD WITH A BABY. >> THEY NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO HOPE FOR THAT. ERIN: AND HER EXPERIENCE, WHEN THEY HIT 18 YEARS OLD, THEY CHOOSE TO BE ON THEIR OWN RATHER THAN USING THE RESOURCES DHS STILL OFFERS AFTER THEY HIT 18. >> THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS WITH DHS THAT HELP THEM SOME, BUT NOT MUCH. >> IF THE STATE HAS BEEN YOUR PARENT FOR 14 YEARS, YOU’RE DONE WITH IT. ERIN: BUT SARAH HERRIAN WITH FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTIVE ASSOCIATION OF OKLAHOMA SAYS THE ISSUE IS MOST KIDS WHO AGE OUT, DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE RESOURCES. >> IT’S A REALLY SAD SITUATION. ERIN: SHEILA AND SARAH AGREE DURING THIS PANDEMIC, THEY SHOULD THINK TWICE. >> WE CAN SUPPORT THEM WITH SOME FEDERAL FUNDING WE HAVE AVAILABLE. ERIN: OKLAHOMA SUCCESSFUL ADULTHOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR, JENNIFER BOYER, SAYS THEY HAVE MULTIPLE RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE WHO AGE OUT OF THE SYSTEM UP UNTIL THEY TURN 21. >> PAYING THE RENT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS,OR IT MAY BE THAT THE DORMS CLOSED, AND THEY NEED HELP. ERIN: AND JENNIFER URGES PEOPLE AGING OUT TO CALL THEIR ORGANIZATION NOW IN CASE THE PANDEMIC GETS EVEN WORSE. AND IF YOU NEED ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THE ORGANIZATIONS WILLING TO HELP, LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE, KOCO.COM.

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Organization helping kids who are aging out of foster care system during coronavirus crisis

Longtime foster parent Sheila Schlarb has fostered a few 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds who aged out of the system, and she currently has a 17-year-old with a baby."They need a lot of support, so you just have to hope for that," Schlarb said.In her experience, when foster children become 18 they choose to be on their own rather than use the resources the Department of Human Services offers after they hit 18."There are some programs with DHS that help them some, but not much," Schlarb said."If the state has been your parent for 14 years, you're done with it," said Sarah Herrian, with the Foster Care and Adoptive Association of Oklahoma.Herrian told KOCO 5 that the issue is most children who age out don't take advantage of those resources."It's a really sad situation," she said.Schlarb and Herrian agree that during this pandemic, the 18-year-olds aging out of the system should think twice."I know you don't want to, but sign yourself back in, especially with what's going on in the world right now," Schlarb said.Jennifer Boyer, director of the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program, said the organization has multiple resources for people who age out up until they turn 21."We can support them with some federal funding we have available," Boyer said. "Paying the rent for the next couple of months, or it may be that the dorms or closed and they need help."Boyer urges people aging out to call the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program now in case the pandemic gets worse. The group can help with rent, food and even getting a vehicle. People who were in the system and are 18 can put themselves back into the system for one more year, if they qualify. More information about the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program can be found here.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Longtime foster parent Sheila Schlarb has fostered a few 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds who aged out of the system, and she currently has a 17-year-old with a baby.

"They need a lot of support, so you just have to hope for that," Schlarb said.

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In her experience, when foster children become 18 they choose to be on their own rather than use the resources the Department of Human Services offers after they hit 18.

"There are some programs with DHS that help them some, but not much," Schlarb said.

"If the state has been your parent for 14 years, you're done with it," said Sarah Herrian, with the Foster Care and Adoptive Association of Oklahoma.

Herrian told KOCO 5 that the issue is most children who age out don't take advantage of those resources.

"It's a really sad situation," she said.

Schlarb and Herrian agree that during this pandemic, the 18-year-olds aging out of the system should think twice.

"I know you don't want to, but sign yourself back in, especially with what's going on in the world right now," Schlarb said.

Jennifer Boyer, director of the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program, said the organization has multiple resources for people who age out up until they turn 21.

"We can support them with some federal funding we have available," Boyer said. "Paying the rent for the next couple of months, or it may be that the dorms or closed and they need help."

Boyer urges people aging out to call the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program now in case the pandemic gets worse. The group can help with rent, food and even getting a vehicle.

People who were in the system and are 18 can put themselves back into the system for one more year, if they qualify. More information about the Oklahoma Successful Adulthood Program can be found here.